Does the concentration of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor reflect the transformation of liver cirrhosis to liver carcinoma?
Serum concentration of alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1-PI) was determined by nephelometric method in forty seven patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and fifteen patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our data show an increase in the concentration of alpha1-PI in the group with decompensated LC by 17% and in HCC by 29%. The level of alpha1-PI higher than (220 mg%) may be indicative of the disease progression towards decompensated LC or HCC. In the conclusion, an increase in alpha1-PI concentration in patients with LC may be considered as an alarming factor, but is not sufficiently specific to become a diagnostic tool for the detection of HCC development.
Dabrowska
M
M
Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics, Białystok, Poland.
Mantur
M
M
Panasiuk
A
A
Prokopowicz
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*
D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin